IT MAY be 50 years since the musical South Pacific burst on to the big screen and even longer since it first wowed Broadway in the late Forties.

But there is no doubt that the show, which sees American GIs temporarily billeted on a South Sea island, has staying power.

South Pacific became one of the most successful and enduring musicals produced by the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein partnership.

See it at the Lawrence Batley Theatre next week, when it opens in the capable hands of Longwood Amateur Operatic Society and you’ll understand why.

This is a show packed with emotion and a terrific musical score. It’s brimming with memorable tunes, including Some Enchanted Evening, There Is Nothing Like A Dame, Younger Than Springtime, Happy Talk and This Nearly Was Mine.

Jayne Davison directs and choreographs the show, which opens in the main house and has a strong line-up of performers who will get the most out of the script’s laughter and its tears.

Sharon Whitehead and Ian Moorhouse lead the company as Ensign Nellie Forbush, the young nurse who falls for plantation owner Emile de Becque.

And playing the parallel love story of Polynesian girl Liat and American serviceman Lt Joe Cable are Sonya Morris and Dominic Moccia.

Martin Stead will doubtless wring much out of the endearing character of the US marine Luther Billis. And look out too for the power of Elaine Cockram as Liat’s mother, Bloody Mary who has one of the potentially show-stopping songs of the night, Bali Ha’i.

The cast also includes a wealth of other acting talent in its principal roles, including Paul Bennett, much in demand for his acting and directing skills and the society’s chairman, Granville Stead, dad of Martin and no stranger to principal roles with various societies.

This talented cast of principals, backed by 30 other performers, underlines the family ties which keep this society sociable.

Opening night is Tuesday at 7.15pm with evening performances continuing all week. There is a Saturday matinee at 2.15pm.